‘One Safe Place’ Family Justice Center Officially Open

Fort Worth city leaders attend the ribbon cutting for the One Safe Place family justice center. (credit: CBSDFW.COM)

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Victims of domestic violence in Tarrant County now have a new help resource.

A family justice center, called One Safe Place, has opened and is offering a variety of services under one roof. All of the agencies work in partnership to provide specialized assistance.

“A family justice center is basically bringing together a multi-agency task force, all under one roof, that’s dedicated to providing all of these services to victims of domestic violence,” One Safe Place Director Michelle Morgan explained.

Morgan said One Safe Place, located at 777 W. Rosedale Street, is one-stop-shopping for badly needed victim services and that the results of having such a facility in the area are two-fold.

“Victims are much more likely to go through the criminal justice system, so we may see initial reports of domestic violence go up. And then the homicide rate reduces in communities where there are justice centers.”

Fort Worth Police Officer Kellie Whitehead said One Safe Place is meant to provide a menu of help for victims.

“We do want to make sure that victim’s get the services that they need and get themselves back on track,” she said.

An artist rendering of what the renovated One Safe Place facility will look like upon completion. (credit: CBSDFW.COM)

One Safe Place is also in the process of renovating a building on the property where they are currently located. The permanent, 67,000-square-foot, building is scheduled to “hopefully” open in the spring of 2013.

One Safe Place is a part of the Safe City Commission; a crime prevention non-profit organization started in 2005. The Safe City Commission will oversee and manage the facilitation of all the partner agencies working with One Safe Place.

Morgan said all of the agencies have learned to work together and, “If we can all remain committed to what it is we are here to accomplish then we can save lives.”